French Resistance Encodes Election Results On Twitter: The Dwarf Has Pawned His Rolex

In the land of perpetual ennui, where humor is not a cultural norm, the French had their first round of presidential elections yesterday, and also their second revolution. This time, they didn’t have to show up at the Bastille with burning baguettes, they just stayed in their pajamas and revolted on Twitter, flouting la loi which bans the publication of election results before 8pm on election day. If you do, you’ll be slapped with a €75,000 fine ($99,000) and do time in La Conciergerie, where Marie Antoinette ate her horsey cake.

But a certain provocateurmarcvasseur asked his friends to come up with a Twitter hash tag to communicate coded election results, and #RadioLondres, for Charles de Gaulle’s WWII coded radio broadcasts to the French Resistance, was hatched.

Nicolas Sarkozy, the incumbent, was Rolex (for gaucheness), the dwarf/midget (he’s been busted many times either standing on his tippy toes or on a little box in order to appear taller next to his wife, chanteuse Carla Bruni, or the Obamas), Budapest (he’s Hungarian) and of course, Napoleon (he is a gauche Hungarian dwarf/midget).

Sarkozy critics gleefully envisioned his impending eviction from the Élysée Palace: “The engines on Air Sarko One have started,” “The Rolex is in the pawnshop,” “Carla has opened an account on [French dating site] meetic,” and finally, just before 7pm, at the height of that day’s tweets-per-minute (16,662), melclalex tweeted Sarkozy’s demise:

But Socialist Hollande, at 28.63 percent to Sarkozy’s 27.18 percent, does not have the election in his Birkin bag. Marine Le Pen could take her frightening 20% Vichy votes and throw them to Sarkozy.

No, 90% of French people *claimed* to be active members of the Resistance *after* WW2. Most were either fairly apathetic, and quite a few were actively collaborating with Le Boche. This of course does not detract from the valor of those French people who really were members of the Resistance.

BaldarTFlagass

And there were absolutely zero Nazis to be found in Germany after the war.

sewollef

Not totally, but so, so close to the truth.

When asked about my 'aventure amoureuse secrète' with France — since I used to live in Toulouse — I liked to remind my French friends that England and France have been at war at some point, for every single century for the past 1,000 years — with the exception of the 20th century.

Since they invaded and conquered us in 1066, the Brits have paid them back every century by whupping their asses in virtually every war for the subsequent 800 years. And occupied parts of their country for most of that time.

littlebigdaddy

Aux armes, les citoyens!

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

To arms, lemons?

Oh, citOYens! My error.

Doktor StrangeZoom

Citroens do have a rather bad reputation for reliability.

chascates

Likewise the French army.

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

Non non! They are very reliable! They show up, they surrender!

Negropolis

Ask the Algerians about that one.

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

Mon point, exactement!

I always thought that was one of the more clever synchronicities in language.

I find it funny that this guy uses "Rolex" as a measurement of opulence and affluence — seems like there's lots of competition available for *bling* or any number of trappings more emblematic of financial success than a Rolex!

http://politicsafter50.blogspot.com lisawines

My GUESS is that the French are big on understated elegance. The little black dress with pearls and little black flats, etc. They despise bling. Also, this week, while campaigning he added insult to injury, he took his watch off as he began to shake hands with people. La Deluge!

http://loljazzcatz.blogspot.com/ Chet Kincaid

You seem a bit love/hate on your expatriate refuge. I don't know how you manage living there, the French don't pronounce their language properly. I have a lot easier time conversing with Francophone Africans, with my toddler French skills.

http://politicsafter50.blogspot.com lisawines

Parisians use a lot of slang and it took me a long time to get used to it. Just throw out years of French book learning because it's meaningless. You nailed it though, I do have a love/hate thing going. Yes, it's Paris – so romantic, full of culture… but most of the time I skulk around with my eyes down, hoping not to get yelled at on my way to the bus. My visa renewal is coming up and I'm going… hmmm. where else can I go that's cheaper and FRIENDLIER. :-)

http://politicsafter50.blogspot.com lisawines

And I forgot the infamous bureaucracy. To do anything you have to have 52 copies of everything… My friend who moved here 20 years ago needed stamps so she went to the post office and stood in line for hours, only to be told with indignation that stamps were sold at Tabacs (tobacco stores). Classic.

Fare la Volpe

The only human being I know who still wears a wristwatch is my father, and I'm not so sure about him*

*his human beingness, not his watch-wearing

SorosBot

Hey, I wear a wristwatch. And knowing the time can be useful.

JerkCade

Three cheers for the wristwatch and not having to fish out my cellphone.

Fare la Volpe

Do you not own a phone?

http://loljazzcatz.blogspot.com/ Chet Kincaid

Have you ever tried to check your phone while juggling steaks on a 600-degree grill with barbecue mitts on?

Wait the French have elections now? But I thought Freedom and Democracy were only allowed in America, according to Fox News.

FakaktaSouth

Um, you mean "the greatest, best country God has ever given man on the face of the earth"? Yeah, it's just us. (as long as you don't change the channel, otherwise you will be SO confused)

http://politicsafter50.blogspot.com lisawines

And the Communist candidate placed 4th. The Anti-Capitalist candidate forgot her was running, though. But anyway, with all that socilism/markism running amok, the world will surely explode.

sullivanst

Funny story.

Although it does predate Fox, so not entirely their fault.

When I was a kid we lived in Ohio for a couple of years (I'm a Brit expat, this was way before I immigrated permanently). My mum (sorry, she'll always have that spelling to me) visited my sister's class on I dunno I guess bring-your-parent-to-school day. One of the kids asked her "What's it like, finally living in a free country?"

Buzz Feedback

Didn't know you could post on Twitter from the MiniTel.

http://politicsafter50.blogspot.com lisawines

Hahaha! Good one.

SexySmurf

How many votes did Jerry Lewis get?

freakishlywrong

All of em', Smurf.

chascates

I think Marine Le Pen got 18% so not everyone is on the same barricade there.

http://politicsafter50.blogspot.com lisawines

You're right. 17.9%. That is 2.1% less scary. We'll take any fear reduction we can get.

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

About one in five felt Sarkozy hadn't gone far enough in deporting Romanians.

Lascauxcaveman

In America, 23% of Americans think George W Bush was a great president. So France is, what, about 5% less stupid than the greatest nation ever? Not bad for a bunch of socialistic surrender monkeys.

horsedreamer_1

It's all those horned pachyderms they bring with them.

& don't get me started on the baby-dada drama.

http://howtosavetheworld.ca/ BZ1

King Sarkozy may be evicted from the Palaise? Quelle Horreur!!

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

L'etape, c'est moi!

sullivanst

Just a passing stage…

Chichikovovich

Les twats, c'est moi [et mes copains].

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

Bien joue, monsieur!

*coup de golf poli*

Martini?

Chichikovovich

Merci. I couldn't find a way to get number agreement in the verb with "Les twats", but this was as close as I could come. "Le twat, c'est moi" is grammatical, but didn't sound as close to "l'état" to my ears. Maybe it's a Canuck thing.

the French police have launched a transvaginal probe into the Twitter Election Revolution today, and everyone will be guillotined.

Not for posting the election results early, but for posting them in English.

MissTaken

This will put a damper on Sarkozy's cinq à sept today.

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

He'll just cut it short.

What?

metamarcisf

Marine Le Pen – Pepe Le Pew 2012

BaldarTFlagass

“The engines on Air Sarko One have started,” “The Rolex is in the pawnshop,” “Carla has opened an account on [French dating site] meetic,”

"The head frog has left the lily pad."

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

"Short Sarkozy"

Dashboard Buddha

Jean has a long mustache

io9k9s

Perhaps, but Radio London is calling

Come here a minute

To avoid detection, they should have posted on Google Plus.

Mojopo

Niiice. The ghettos of MySpace are also an option.

FakaktaSouth

What are our cool twat codes for candidates? Obama could be so dangerous to do and RMoney is so fucking boring I don't even know how one could come up for an exceptionally creative nickname for Mittens. I mean, good lord, Mom Jeans and Car Elevator? What about some panache? He sucks.

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

How about "Flapjacks" for Mitt and "LongDong" for the Prez?

http://politicsafter50.blogspot.com lisawines

We can start with vegetables. Obama is an eggplant. Romney… christ, this is hard… is a brussel sprout?

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

He's more a legume.

Guppy

Are you trying to say that Romney is a beaner?

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

PEANUT LIBEL!

FakaktaSouth

Aw, an eggplant like poor dead Dennis Hopper taught me about in True Romance. If Pres O's an eggplant, then Rom's a cumquat.

http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/ actor212

Can't we just call him a "quat"? Something about anything remotely sexual and Mitt….

commiegirl

No, Miss Lisa, because the Italians actually do call black people "eggplants." In a RACIST way. So that will not do.

http://loljazzcatz.blogspot.com/ Chet Kincaid

I was gonna say. I just assumed Ms. Wines was not a Sopranos fan.

http://politicsafter50.blogspot.com lisawines

Haven't owned a TV for years so I am clueless.

http://politicsafter50.blogspot.com lisawines

Well duh stupid moi. Of course it is. But I love eggplants? (lame)

prommie

That was, well, that was, how do I put this politely, my dear? That was not coherent. But it was lovely nonetheless. Dulce et decorum est desaparece in loco.

FakaktaSouth

Whatevs. The lady who wrote this got what I meant. I probably just shouldn't talk about twitter, Parce-que je ne le (la?) comprend pas. is twitting masculine or feminine? See, nevermind.

Chichikovovich

chanteuse Carla Bruni

Mme. Sarkoléon sings? How much I learn on Wonkette. I thought her job was just to look good wearing unaffordable clothes and lately to produce la dauphine.

Take comfort all. Communists like Socialists more than the Fascists like Sakorzy, so get ready for the European bond market to throw a hissy fit.

Gainsbourg69

Le Pen getting the most votes ever for the FN doesn't bode too well for the left. If even half of her supporters turn out to vote against Hollande, Sarkozy wins. The good news is that while the right did well, Melenchon went from 3% to 11% in a matter of months. A further round of austerity and all of the consequences which that entails means the left will be more powerful next time around.

Negropolis

That, and Melenchon immediately called for this supporters to get behind Hollande and Le Pen has yet to ask her followers to back Sarkozy. If you don't do it right out of the gate, the future endorsement is less effective.

For the first time in a long time, in France, the left is more fervent and organized than the right.

Mojopo

I am delighting in this much. Years ago, my pal in Paris sent me the Sarkozy voodoo doll – the one he tried to ban. It's still in the box, but I did take it out last night to add some strategically placed pins. Thank you, voodoo.

Blueb4sunrise

French post for breakfast.
Alas, a thread nouveau already.

Biff

Le chat Henri 2012!

DahBoner

Le French pussy know how to suffer…

DemonicRage

Will the World Economy be thrown into even greater disorder, when the newly elected French President reverses austerity measures and starts spending like a reckless fool? Stay tuned for further developments.

Negropolis

Huh? France (along with a few other Western European nations) is in the economic situation that it is, at the moment, because of ham-fisted, untargeted "austerity" or austerity's sake. If Western Europe hadn't been so scared of the word "stimulus", they'd be in the position we are in thanks to Obama's "spending like a reckless fool."

Tea party, much?

io9k9s

The dwarf has a pooley prick…

OneYieldRegular

I was disappointed that the guy who wants to build a bridge between Earth and Mars didn't even get 2% of the vote.

ttommyunger

Did not know Ted Nugent was French. Nice pix, I guess he's been working out.

SudsMcKenzie

Dinklage Libel!12

proudgrampa

Was Le Petomane on the ballot? I would have voted for him.

horsedreamer_1

Sarkozy should have taken a page from his homeboy Assad's book & banned the Internet. Though, the inevitable uprising in response led by Frank Ocean would be rough. Still…

kingofmeh

i don't even understand. since the internet exists, why didn't somebody outside the country tweet the results? why talk in code, when you could just send the results privately to a foreigner to retweet them, unencoded? somehow, i think this was more about coming up with clever code names for the pols than about actually relaying information.

fuflans

sadly our wingtards are giving the le pens a run for the money.

hommage a baconz: this is 100% snark free.

Negropolis

Apparently, this revolution will be Twitterized.

DahBoner

French Resistance

Back when I was younger, I slept on the couch of a young, nubile Parisian girl, but I did'nt "try anything", so I can't comment on the resistance.

But the odd thing was, I was awoken by her German friend, who LITERALLY broke her door down and came in to check her virginity…